Grocery stores in Va., 6 other states pull Arizona lettuce from shelves

Photo: Flickr/Muffett

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Iceberg lettuce is being removed from groceries in at least seven states after salmonella was found in an Arizona field adjacent to the grower's property.

The California company, Growers Express, says none of its lettuce tested positive for salmonella. The company says it alerted retailers about the neighboring field and sought a withdrawal of the product "out of an abundance of caution."

Company CEO Jamie Strachan says it was a voluntary move. He says his company doesn't own the tainted field but he declined to say who did.

The Kroger Co. and its affiliated Smith's Food and Drug pulled the lettuce from 200 stores in at least seven states, including Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration didn't respond Friday to requests for comment.